UPDATE
easydestination.net Richard Branson plans for Virgin Hotels to open in 25 destinations in the next 10 years. These four star hotels will have 150-400 rooms. Analysts believe that Virgin Hotels, to launch next year, will compete with Starwood's W, Kimpton Hotels, Hyatt and Thompson Hotels in the US.
Phuketwan MediaWATCH
A daily wrap of Thailand news, with a Phuket perspective, plus relevant reports from national and international media.
bangkokpost.com The newly established Tourism Development Department will work closely with local authorities to build a reliable tourism database and improve tourist attractions. ''Once the database is completed, it will benefit tourists and help reduce fraud and cheating," said Suwat Sidthilaw, the department's deputy director-general. The first database-building project will begin in key tourist destinations such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya.
nationmultimedia.com Retail giant Seacon Development had not launched any expansion projects for nearly 10 years until three years ago when it invested 1.2 billion baht on a 180-room hotel in Phuket. Operated by the Marriott chain, the hotel will be fully operational next month.
Phuket Update Hundreds of Australian visitors to Phuket packed Patong bars yesterday to watch Cinderella teams St Kilda and Collingwood slug their way to an exciting draw in the Australian Football League Grand Final - which means they return to play again next Saturday.
theage.com.au The Sunday Age's favorite post-grand final tattoo story is the fable of ''Neville'', the Geelong Cats fan who was holidaying on Phuket after the Cats' 2007 triumph and decided a tattoo of his club's exploits was in order. Having consumed 15 beers, stumped up written instructions and $150, Neville was looking for a Cats logo and the words ''Day Premiers 2007'' on his right arm. What he got was a tattoo saying ''Right arm. Gay Premiers 2007''.
telegraph.co.uk Police are investigating whether a bomb warning that forced a plane carrying 273 people from Canada to Pakistan to land in Stockholm may have been a "terrorism hoax." The pilot decided to land the Boeing 777 after Canadian police received a phone-call from a call-box that a passenger on board was carrying explosives.
Associated Press The Paris-based group Reporters Without Borders has condemned the arrest in Thailand of the manager of a popular Thai news website, Prachatai. The complaint against Chiranuch Premchaiporn was filed by Sunimit Jirasuk, a businessman in Khon Kaen, in April 2008.
bloomberg.com Fernando Alonso won the pole position for the Singapore Grand Prix, where the top five drivers in the standings will start at the front of the field. Alonso will start ahead of Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel, with McLaren's Lewis Hamilton third fastest in qualifying. The Spaniard will have the advantage during the evening race through the streets of Singapore.
bangkokpost.com Cambodia has pledged to send rogue red shirts caught on its territory back to Thailand and resolve the border dispute near Preah Vihear temple through talks, Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said. The Thai and Cambodian leaders met for the first time since Thailand opposed Cambodia's management plan for the Hindu temple at the World Heritage Committee meeting in Brazil in August.
guardian.co.uk Taking to the podium as the new leader of Britain's Labor party, Ed Miliband turned to David saying: "David, I love you so much as a brother." For his part, David was clearly in no mood to discuss where his future now lies: "This is Ed's day, not mine."
independent.co.uk India officially unveiled to the world its athletes' village for the Commonwealth Games. Some of it was first class, some of it was adequate, and some of it was downright shoddy.
reuters Airlines may be ordered to check tens of thousands of aircraft passenger seats made by Japanese manufacturer Koito Industries after a scandal over questionable safety data, European and US authorities said. Shares in the company plunged 33 percent in February after it said it had been told by Japan's transport ministry to improve business management over the falsification of fire resistance and strength data on plane seats.
nationmultimedia.com Four-star Kameo House in Rayong is the latest addition to the Kasemkit Group, which operates properties all over Thailand, among them Cape Panwa in Phuket, Kantary Hill in Chiang Mai and Cape Racha in Chon Buri.
philstar.com For a travel destination to be something to crow about, it has to have many things going for it. For one, it has to have infrastructure to accommodate visitors. Two, it has to have people who are hospitable and friendly. Three, it has to have great cuisine. Four, it has to have fantastic sights and events. Five, it has to be safe. And six, it has to offer a wonderful shopping experience. I can say with no reservations that Thailand has all of the above in abundance.
afp A gay film festival hailed as the biggest in Asia and the only one in the Muslim world kicks off in Indonesia on Friday, hoping to draw 15,000 viewers to screenings and fringe events.
Phuket Coming Events
September 25-26 Phuket Dinghy series, for young sailors, begins
Until September 26 Quiksilver 2010 Surf Competition, Kata beach
Until September 29 USNS Walter S. Diehl visits Phuket
October 1-3 Asian Hospitality and Travel Show, Hafale, Phuket City
October 8-16 Vegetarian Festival, Phuket
October 12 Qatar begins daily flights to Phuket
November 2-7 Phuket womens' beach volleyball, Karon beach
November 5 Phuket Charity Pro Am Golf, Blue Canyon
November 19 AustCham at the new Westin Hotel at Koh Sireh from 3pm. E: harry@ladypie.com Tel: 081 2731740
November 28 Laguna Phuket triathlon
December 4-11 Phuket King's Cup Regatta
December 5 Laguna Ironman title
2011
January 6-9 PIMEX boat show, Royal Phuket Marina
February 9-13 The Bay Regatta - Phuket, Phang Nga, Krabi
Latest Phuket News
Phuket Police Pursue Hillside Killers on the Loose
Latest Investigation continue into a brutal murder that involved a beautiful karaoke girl who had several lovers, and came to a savage end on a hillside above Patong.
Phuket Police Pursue Hillside Killers on the Loose
Phuket Hostess Killer Undergoes Psychiatric Check
Update Hostess killer and poker player Ronald Fanelli is in Surat Thani undergoing psychiatric tests that may explain why he killed Sweetheart Bar mother of two Wanpen Pianchai.
Phuket Hostess Killer Undergoes Psychiatric Check
Human Rights Seeks Action on Patong Tuk-Tuks, Police Bribes
Latest A letter from Thailand's Human Rights Commission to Phuket officials has triggered an investigation of tuktuk drivers' use of public parking, intimidation, fares cheating and police bribery.
Human Rights Seeks Action on Patong Tuk-Tuks, Police Bribes
Best of Phuket: Som Enchanted Evening
Restaurant Review If seafood and tiger prawns turn you on, then Som may be the best place to go on Phuket. Its a restaurant with a view over upmarket Bang Tao, aka Laypan beach.
Best of Phuket: Som Enchanted Evening
Phuket's Beaches: How They Rate for Cleanliness
Latest When it comes to cleanliness, Phuket has some star beach performers. But others are also-rans as well, home to plastic bags, bottles, rope, fishing nets and rubbish of all kinds.
Phuket's Beaches: How They Rate for Cleanliness
For Phuket's Sake, Remember Rebecca and Swim Safe
News Analysis The inquest on a young British holidaymaker who drowned on her first day in the surf on Phuket is told of her final moments. It's a tragedy that must not be repeated.
For Phuket's Sake, Remember Rebecca and Swim Safe
Travelling the palm tree highway out of Phuket I had to stop at the traffic light where the road to the airport breaks left. There I did see this old limping man, selling the usual good luck flower things you can hang at your car mirror.
As he could only walk very slowly and looked poor but strangely determined and my signal becoming green, I suddenly decided to stop shortly after the traffic light and walk back to him.
I wanted to give him a little 100 baht as a gift, but he talked me out of it, so I just bought one flower thing for 20 baht. As he told me, while walking the line while red with him, he do not want pity, never in his life. He was proud to work, and then he could even smile. He said he was sure that if he accept pity gifts, that it would tarnish his hard work all his life. That really impressed me.
As my kids were waiting on the not so safe sidelines in the car, I thanked him and said goodbye and farewell. But he was already limping the next line.
In my car I was thinking about him when I looked at the flower thing on my mirror. Normally these traffic signal sellers can be rude and angry, like that old guy with the red jacket and helmet at Lotus intersection.... but not him, he just wanted to earn his money by selling lucky charms, even when he really looked like he could use some extra help.
So here I am, asking you, if you come to those traffic lights, where the road to the airport breaks away to the left, and you have to wait at the signal and you want to buy one of these flower things, for yourself or as a present, and this old chap slowly limps by, poor looking, dark hair and a grim face, then please open your window and buy one for 20 baht. Next time I see him, I will.
Posted by Lena on September 26, 2010 14:07